Sheriff’s employee found dead; no foul play suspected

Published: Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 10:37 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 10:37 p.m.

A Marion County Sheriff's Office employee was found dead by another employee in a vehicle underneath a wooden shelter near the agency's garage on Saturday afternoon.

The investigation has been turned over to the Ocala Police Department. So far, officials say they do not suspect foul play.

According to OPD officials, a Sheriff's Office employee who works in the Emergency Management Bureau had difficulty getting into the department's Mobile Command Center, and Brian C. Gibson, 30, assisted him to get in. After getting into a vehicle, the employee left.

Gibson's department vehicle was parked in a spot normally reserved for an armored SWAT Team vehicle when the employee left, authorities said.

A member of the SWAT Team arrived and, noticing that Gibson's vehicle was still parked in the same spot, called the EMB employee. The employee showed up and went to get a set of spare keys to move the vehicle. When he opened the vehicle, he saw Gibson slumped over dead in the driver's seat. Authorities said they found no sign of foul play.

Gibson was hired by the Sheriff's Office in July 2013 and worked in the EMB. Before that, he worked in the state's Division of Emergency management.

<p>A Marion County Sheriff's Office employee was found dead by another employee in a vehicle underneath a wooden shelter near the agency's garage on Saturday afternoon.</p><p>The investigation has been turned over to the Ocala Police Department. So far, officials say they do not suspect foul play.</p><p>According to OPD officials, a Sheriff's Office employee who works in the Emergency Management Bureau had difficulty getting into the department's Mobile Command Center, and Brian C. Gibson, 30, assisted him to get in. After getting into a vehicle, the employee left.</p><p>Gibson's department vehicle was parked in a spot normally reserved for an armored SWAT Team vehicle when the employee left, authorities said.</p><p>A member of the SWAT Team arrived and, noticing that Gibson's vehicle was still parked in the same spot, called the EMB employee. The employee showed up and went to get a set of spare keys to move the vehicle. When he opened the vehicle, he saw Gibson slumped over dead in the driver's seat. Authorities said they found no sign of foul play.</p><p>Gibson was hired by the Sheriff's Office in July 2013 and worked in the EMB. Before that, he worked in the state's Division of Emergency management.</p>